The year 2026 has been declared the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF) by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The initiative aims to highlight the vital role women play across global food and agricultural systems for their work that sustains communities, nourishes families, and strengthens local economies around the world.
Women are at the heart of agrifood systems. An estimated 40 percent of agricultural workers worldwide are women, contributing at every stage of the food system—from production and processing to distribution and market exchange. Beyond their work in fields and markets, women are also central to household food and nutrition security, ensuring families and communities have access to healthy and reliable sources of food.
Despite their enormous contributions, the work of women farmers has often remained invisible. Across many regions, women continue to navigate systemic barriers to land ownership, financial services, education, agricultural extension, and participation in decision-making processes. Addressing these gaps is increasingly recognized as one of the most powerful ways to strengthen global food systems.
A recent FAO report on the Status of Women in Agrifood Systems highlights not just how disproportionately women farmers are disadvantaged, but also how gender equality is central in the transition to more sustainable and resilient agrifood systems.
According to the report, women farmers often cultivate smaller plots of land and earn, on average, about 78 cents for every dollar earned by men in agricultural work. At the same time, women and girls perform a significant share of unpaid household and care work—contributing an estimated $10.8 trillion annually to the global economy.
“The cost of inaction is enormous. We know from recent estimates that closing the gaps between men and women in agriculture could raise global GDP by one trillion dollars and reduce food insecurity for 45 million people,” says Maximo Torero, Chief Economist at the FAO, at the 179th Session of the FAO Council, where the initiative was launched.
The report further suggests that reducing gender disparities in agrifood systems could significantly narrow the global food insecurity gap while improving livelihoods for tens of millions of people worldwide.
Studies suggest that if women farmers had the same access to land, finance, and training as men, agricultural productivity could increase by up to 4 percent globally. This could potentially reduce the number of hungry people in the world by 12 to 17 percent.
By declaring 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer, the global community is recognizing both the extraordinary contributions of women farmers and the opportunity to support their leadership in shaping the future of food. Empowering women in agriculture strengthens rural communities, increases productivity, and builds more sustainable and resilient food systems for everyone.
At The Foodscapes Collective, we are proud to take part in this global initiative by launching a series celebrating women farmers around the world—sharing their stories, their innovations, and their vital role in feeding communities today and in the future.
Throughout 2026, we will publish farmer profiles that explore the experiences, innovations, and leadership of women working across diverse agricultural landscapes—from smallholder farms to community food initiatives. By sharing these stories, we hope to celebrate the women who sustain our food systems while creating space for greater recognition of their knowledge, resilience, and contributions.
As the International Year of the Woman Farmer unfolds, these voices will remind us that the future of food is not only grown in fields—it is shaped by the women who cultivate them.
Photo Courtesy of Unsplash
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